so often as I list, whither I list, and with whom I list. And neither at my goyng forthe, to be demaunded whither I will, ne at my returne to bee asked where I have been. I will farther haue you condescende to this, that forasmuche as I haue learned, that it is not onely very vntothsome, but likewise very vnwholesome, for youth and age to lye sokyng together in one bedde, I will therefore make no bedfellowe of you, but at my owne pleasure. And in maner as followeth, that is to saie: this first yere I shall be contented to bestowe one night in a moneth to doe you pleasure, if I maie see you worthie of it, or that you bee able to deserue it: but the first yere beyng once expired, fower tymes a yeere maie very well suffice, that is one night a quarter, as it shall please myself to appoinct. There be many other matters whiche I will not now stande to repeate, but these before rehearsed, bee the principall thynges wherein I wil not be controlde, but meane to follow myne owne liking: How saie you Phylotus, can you bee contented to frame yourself herein, to followe my direction.

Alas (quoth Phylotus) I see no other shift, I must perforce endeuour my self paciently to abide what soeuer it shall please you to commaunde, and doe yeeld myself as recreant, and ouercome, and wholy doe put my self to your fauour and mercie, readie to receiue what soeuer it shall please you to awarde

vnto me.

Phylerno, letting hym now arise, saied: prepare your self then to goe to your bedde, and anon, at myne owne leasure, I will come vnto you; and departe againe at myne owne pleasure, when I shall see tyme.

Phylotus, comforting hymself with these sweete speeches, did thinke it yet to be some part of amendes, that she had promised to come and visite hym: went quietly to his bedde, there to abide the good hower till Emelia did come.

Phylerno, hauyng prepared one of these marcenarie women (whereof there are greate store in Rome to bee had) conueighed her to the bedd of Phylotus, giuyng her enstructions how to vse her selfe: and went hymself to his best beloued Brisilla, whom he had made priuie to his whole deuise; and in

this maner it was agreed betweene them, thei had thought to haue dieted Phylotus once a moneth with some cast stuffe, suche as thei could hire best cheape in the Toune.

But it fell out that Flanius, whom you haue heard before, had stolne awaie Emelia, beyng at the Churche the same daie that Phylotus was maried, and sawe Alberto giue his daughter Emelia to Phylotus for his wife: had thought assuredly that hymself had been deceiued by some Deuill or spirite, that had taken vpon hym the likenesse of Emelia. And, therefore, hastyng hymself home with all possible speede, came to Emelia, and blessing himself, he saied: I charge thee in the name of the liuyng GOD, that thou tell me what thou art, and that thou presently departe to the place from whence thou camest. And I conjure thee in the name of the Holie Trinitie, by our blessed Ladie the Virgine Marie, by Aungels and Archaungels Patriarkes and Prophetes, by the Apostles, and fower Euangelistes, Matthewe, Marke, Luke and Jhon, by al the holie Martyres and Confessours, and the rest of the rable and blessed route of Heauen, that thou quietly departe without any maner of preiudice, either to man, woman, or childe, either to any maner of beast that is vppon the face of the earth, the Foules of the ayre, or the Fishes of the Sea, and without any maner of Tempest, Storme, Whirle winde, Thunder or Lightnyng, and that thou take no maner of shape, that maie seeme either terrible or fearfull vnto me.

Emelia hearyng these wordes, merueilyng muche what thei ment, with a smilyng countenaunce came towardes Flanius, saiyng: Why how now, Seignior Flanius, what doe you thinke me to be some Deuill, or any Hagge of Hell, that you fall so to Coniuryng and blessyng of your self?

I charge thee come no nere (quoth Flanius) stand backe, for these inticementes can no longer abuse me, when I haue seen with myne eyes, my beloued Emelia, maried in the Churche, and giuen by Alberto her Father, to Phylotus for his wife, what should I thinke of thee but to be some Feend, or sent vnto me by some Inchauntment or Witchcraft; and therefore I will no longer neither of thy companie, neither of thy conference: And here withall

takyng Emelia by the shoulders, he thrust her forthe of doores, and shuttyng the doore after her: He gat hym to his Chamber, where he fell to his praiers, thinkyng assuredly that Emelia had been some spirite.

But Emelia, after she had a three or fower daies made what meanes she could to Flanius, and sawe it was in vaine, was driuen to goe to her Father, before whom fallyng vppon her knees, she desired hym moste humbly to forgiue her.

Alberto takyng her vp in his armes saied: that he knewe nothyng wherein she had offended hym, but her suite might easily be graunted.

Deare father (quoth Emelia) I know I haue offended, and so farr as my fact deserueth, rather to be punished than pitied: the remembraunce whereof is so lothsome vnto me, that I feare to call you by the name of father, hauing shewed my self so vnworthie a daughter. These wordes she pronounced with such sorrowe, that the teares streamed doune her cheekes; wherewith Alberto, moued with natural affection, said: Deare child, I knowe no suche offence that ought to bee so greeuously taken; but speake boldly, whatsoeuer it be, I freely forgiue it.

Emelia very well comforted with these speeches, beganne to discourse how she first disguised herself in Page's apparell, and what greef it was to her conscience, that she should so farr straie from the duetie and obedience of a child, and to become a fugitiue in a man's apparell. But her father not sufferyng her further to proceede in her tale, saied: Alas, deare daughter if this bee the matter, it is long agoe sithe I haue bothe forgiuen and forgotten these causes: and therefore let these thynges neuer trouble you. But tell me nowe how doe you lik of your bedfellowe? how agree you with hym, or he with you, I would be glad to knowe?

Alas deare father (quoth Emelia) that is the matter that I come to you, he hath turned me awaie, and wil no longer take me for his wife, and what is the cause that hath moued hym vnto it I protest before God I knowe not for my life.

Hath he turned thee awaie (q. Alberto) my self wil quickly find a re

medie for that matter, and without any more to do, (would not tary so much as while his goune was a brushing) but out of doores he goes towards Phylotus, whom by chaunce he met withall in the Streates, and in a greate chafe begins to chalenge hym for abusyng of his daughter, swearyng that he would make all Rome to speake of his abuse, if he ment to proceede in that he had begunne.

Phylotus, wonderyng to see the man in suche an agonie, beganne to wishe that he had neuer seene hym nor his daughter neither, and that if any bodie haue cause to complaine it is I (quoth Phylotus) that haue maried such a wife, that is more like to a deuill then a woman; and I perceiue now is maintained in her mischiefe by you that are her father, who ought rather to rebuke her then so to take her part, and to incourage her in her leudenesse.

What incouragment is this you speake of (q. Alberto) I knowe not what you meane by these wordes; but assure your self of this, that as I wil not maintaine my child in any thing that is euill, so I will not see her take a manifest wrong.

Doe you thinke this to be good then (quoth Phylotus) that your daugh

ter should bestowe suche hansell on her housband as she hath alreadie bestowed vpon me, and then pointyng to his face, he saied: See here your daughter's handie woorke, how thinke you, is this requisite to be borne with all, that you stande so muche in your daughter's defence?

Alberto seeyng his face all swolne, and the skinne scratched of, perceiued that Phylotus was at a fraie, and had good cause to complaine: And wonderyng that his daughter was so sodainly become a shrewe, saied: If this bee my daughter's handie woorke, I can neither beare withall, neither will I allowe it in her, so to vse her housebande. And therefore I praie you, lette me heare the matter debated betweene you; and I doubt not, but to take suche order, as there shall no more any suche rule happen betweene you.

I am contented you shall debate what you will (q. Phylotus) so it maie be doen with quietnesse, but I will neuer more contende with her for

the maisterie while I liue, she hath alredie wonne it, I am contented she shall weare it.

I praie you then (quoth Alberto) that you wil goe home to your owne house, and I will goe fetche my daughter, and will come vnto you straight waie, and I doubt not but to take suche order betweene you as shall fall out to bothe your likinges.

I praie God you maie (q. Phylotus) and I will goe home, and there will staie your commyng.

Alberto likewise went to his owne house, and callyng Emelia, saied neuer a woorde to her, but willed her to followe hym: and commyng to the house of Phylotus, whom he founde within tariyng his commyng. And it fortuned at the same instante, Philerno and Brisilla bothe were gone into the Toune to buye certaine thynges that thei had neede of. And Alberto beginnyng first to rebuke his Daughter, that would seme in suche maner to abuse her housebande, and with a long discourse he preached vnto her, with what duetie and obedience, women ought to vse their housebandes withall, and not to take vpon them like Maisters, to correcte and chastise theim, Emelia denaied not onelie the facte, but also she denaied Phylotus to be her housebande.

What haue wee here to dooe (quoth the Father) how canst thou (shamelesse queane) denaie that, whiche within these fower daies was performed in the face of the whole worlde ?

Emelia standyng stiffe to her tackelyng: would in nowise confesse that euer she was married.

Then her Father beganne to charge her with her owne woordes, whiche she had vsed to him before, how she had disguised her self in mannes apparell, and so stolne awaie forthe of doores, the which Emelia neuer denied. Why then (quoth her father) did not I meete thee in the streates, and at the requeste of thy housebande here presente, did forgiue thee thy faulte, to whom I then deliuered thee, and with whom thou haste euer sithence remained.